Dictyostelium ras genes

Abstract Five ras genes (rasB, rasC, rasD, rasG and rasS) and one rap gene (rap1) have been isolated and characterized in the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum (Daniel etal. 1993,1994; Reymond etal. 1984; Robbins eta/. 1989,1990). These ras subfamily genes encode 21-22 kDa GTP-binding proteins that have 52-68% amino acid identity with the human H-Ras protein (Table 1). These genes all appear to be present in a single copy since each of their cognate cDNAs hybridizes to a single, unique genomic fragment under high stringency conditions.